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Moms Around the World: Cairns, Australia Tips for planning visits with young children from a local mom in the know
In this feature: Great Places to Go Getting Around Dining with Kids Practical Tips Parenting
Today we touch
down in tropical Cairns, Australia with mum of three and Director of
Cairns Family Holidays, Peace
Mitchell.
Peace has lived in the Cairns region of Australia nearly all of her life. Naturally, she loves the Great Barrier Reef, the islands, and the gorgeous rainforest there. She also appreciates the tropical climate and lifestyle there that is far more relaxed than that of most families in Sydney and the larger cities. Peace says her three sons, ages 4, 6, and 8, love fishing, bushwalking, snorkeling and swimming in their free time. Read on as Peace shares her tips about one of Australia’s—and the world’s—vacation hotspots. Great places to take the kids in Cairns and Australia's Tropical North 
Q: You live
in an incredible location that’s on many people’s “bucket lists”
of places to see in the world. So of course we all want to know
where are your favorite places to go—or things to do in the
area with your own family?
Peace:
My favourite place to take the kids is to the beach. We have
gorgeous beaches here, where the rainforest literally meets the
reef. I love to pack a picnic, call up a few friends and head
down to the beach with the kids for the day.
There are also lots of great walking trails in this area that take you to secret waterfalls and spectacular lookouts. We usually visit rainforest trails because they're closer, but in wet weather we like to head west for camping and bushwalking in the nearby outback region.
[She pointed me
to the following links for her recommendations for going to
the beach and also into
the outback.]
 Q: I’ve
heard car seat laws in Australia are quite strict. What should
families coming to visit Australia with babies and young
children know about car seat laws?
Peace:
The laws for car seats are quite strict in Australia, children
under one year must be carried in an approved child restraint
suitable for the child's weight and size and properly fitted.
Babies under 6 months must be restrained in a backward facing
infant capsule or child seat. Children up to 4 years must be in
a forward facing child restraint and children over 4 and up to
the age of 7 years must use a booster seat. If you are traveling
by taxi and a restraint is not available you are exempt, but
children under 12 must not sit in the front seat.
[What’s more,
the car seats must be marked with the AS Australia Standards
mark—your car seat from the U.S. probably doesn’t qualify.]
Q: Is public
transportation available at Cairns? And is it good option
for parents with babies and young children?
Peace:
Public transport is limited in my area. Cairns city has buses
but I would recommend that families coming here hire (rent) a
car—don't forget we drive on the left! The larger cities of
Australia, like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, all have well
established public transport systems with trains, buses, ferries
and trams. The ferries are my favourite.
Eating out with kids in Cairns
Q: What
kinds of restaurants do you recommend parents visit—or
avoid—while vacationing in Cairns with babies and young children?
And is it
common to see children in restaurants?
Peace:
Cairns has some great family-friendly restaurants [she has a
terrific guide of her own
here]. Most of the ones along
the esplanade will accommodate children and many offer early
bird dining discounts which is perfect for families! I always
carry a notebook and a couple of pens in my bag so that the kids
can draw or play while they wait for meals to come out. My
number one lunch recommendation is Skippers Cafe located inside
the huge playground on Cairns Esplanade.
Practical tips for visiting Cairns with babies, toddlers, and young children
Q: Where
should visiting parents look to find baby supplies like diapers—I mean,
“nappies,” baby food, and other baby essentials?
Peace:
Most baby supplies,
such as diapers, wipes and baby food can be found at our major
supermarkets - Coles, Woolworth’s, Bi-Lo and IGA. For specific
infant medicine or creams you'll need to visit a chemist or
pharmacy.
Q: What
other advice would you give to parents planning travel to Cairns
and the Great Barrier Reef?
Peace:
For families visiting Australia and in particular Cairns and the
Great Barrier Reef, I would say bring hats, sunscreen and long
sleeved sun shirts. We are very much an outdoors nation and
children can become sunburned quickly. Also, keep in mind the
local seasons when planning your travel. April through November
are the best times to visit Cairns. If you're travelling with
young children I'd recommend
visiting one of the islands. Or to see the rainforest, I
would recommend
taking a trip on the skyrail. We also have lots of great
toddler-friendly playgrounds, wildlife parks and beaches.
Life and lifestyle for new parents and moms in Australia
 Q: Has
raising small children in Australia changed very much since you
were a child? I’m also wondering if it’s
more common for new mothers to work or to stay home?
Peace:
Raising children has changed a lot in Australia since I was a
child. Women are returning to work sooner and having less time
off with each baby. I think it's as much a reflection of
contemporary societies' expectations of women as it is of
financial pressures. I stayed home with my children until they
were 4 but I was an exception to the norm and it was a very
conscious decision that we made.
And are mothers allowed a “maternity leave” by the Australian government or private businesses? As a teacher I am entitled to 7 years unpaid leave, so I was always able to return to work should I need to or want to. Australia's maternity leave policy is something our current government is looking into as each company has their own rules as to how much time you are allowed to take and whether it is paid or unpaid leave. Some companies unfortunately still have no allowance for maternity leave at all. Few have any allowance for paternity leave.  Q:
What is the breastfeeding “climate” like where you live? Is it
common to see mothers breastfeeding in public? What advice do
you have for nursing mothers visiting your area?
Peace:
Breastfeeding is acceptable in public places in Australia. Most
large shopping centres and department stores provide parenting
facilities. However, outside of the cities the regional towns
have very few facilities making breastfeeding in public the only
option for mothers traveling with infants. My non-profit
organisation
Mothers Helping Others, which
some friends and I formed three years ago to help local families
following cyclone Larry, has been working towards addressing
this issue of parenting facilities by speaking with government
representatives and in 2008 introduced the charter for inclusive
communities in our local area to ensure that future town
planning took into consideration the needs of infants, parents
and caregivers with young children.
Thanks for
sharing Cairns with us, Peace, and your wonderful advice and
photos as well. For more tips about vacationing in
Cairns and Australia's Tropical North with your family, check out her site:
www.CairnsFamilyHolidays.com.au.
Browse all Moms Around the World features
Copyright (c) 2009 - 2011 Shelly Rivoli, author of Travels with Baby. All rights reserved. Adapted from an earlier article by Shelly Rivoli that appeared in the national edition of Examiner.com.
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